Title: Augmented Expression of Tissue Endothelin-1 Messenger RNA is a Common Feature in Hypertensive Rats
Abstract: Summary: Recent studies revealed important roles for endothe-lin-1 (ET-1) in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Whether ET-1 could be a primary cause of hypertension or a secondary factor associated with hypertension, however, remains unknown. In this study, we determined plasma ET-1 levels and the expression of ET-1 mRNA in tissues of rats rendered hypertensive using distinct mechanisms: deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension; NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester-(L-NAME) induced hypertension; and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). ET-1 mRNA expression level was determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blotting. There was no significant difference in plasma ET-1 levels between the hypertensive rats and normotensive rats. By contrast, ET-1 mRNA level was significantly increased in various tissues including the adrenal, lung, kidney and brain of these hypertensive rats compared with control rats. Thus, ET-1 gene expression was ubiquitously augmented in tissues of hypertensive rats irrespective of the cause of the hypertension. The results suggest that the increase in ET-1 expression is not the primary cause of hypertension but a secondary outcome which may further exacerbate the hypertension.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 8
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